British Cycling's Cookson to run for UCI presidency

British Cycling president Brian Cookson OBE has announced his intention to run for the presidency of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).

Cookson has been president of British Cycling since 1996 and his tenure has seen sweeping changes in how the organisation has been run.

These alterations also brought about considerable success with Great Britain helping themselves to impressive medal hauls at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, while the likes of Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish have shone in professional road cycling.

Cookson joined the UCI’s management committee in 2009 and is currently the president of its Road Commission but has now highlighted his desire to climb the ladder further with elections for the presidency taking place in Italy in September.

"I am today announcing that I am standing as a candidate for the presidency of the UCI," said Cookson in a British Cyling statement issued on Tuesday.

"I have the full support and nomination of my home federation, British Cycling, and I respectfully ask for the support of the national cycling federations of the world and the whole international cycling family.

"The passion I and many others have for cycling cannot hide the fact that our international body, the UCI, remains hugely distracted, continuing to flounder in waves of damaging historical controversies.

"I would be truly honoured to be elected UCI president, but I also understand the magnitude of the challenges we face.

“If successful in my campaign, I will do all in my powers to turn my vision of a more open and modern UCI into reality, in full partnership with all the other stakeholders in the sport we love."